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Linking Words
Linking Words
Below are some ideas to help you to develop your structure and flow.
Linking / transition words and phrases join ideas, sentences and paragraphs together. They
should be used within sentences and to move from one idea to another (between sentences).
These words and phrases indicate the direction, order and flow of ideas. Significantly, they strengthen
the quality and structure of your work.
Redundant Words - less is more. Particularly when trying to reduce the word count, it is
important to look for phrases which can be replaced with a single word.
1. Linking/Transition Words
Transitions link one main idea to another separated by a semi-colon or full-stop. When the transition
word is at the beginning of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma:
Among other functions, they can signal cause and effect or sequencing (see examples in the table
below).
therefore; accordingly; as a result of; the result is/results are; the consequence is;
resulting from;
Analyzing
consequently; it can be seen; evidence illustrates that; because of this; thus; hence; for this reason;
results
owing to x; this suggests that; it follows that; otherwise; in that case; that implies;
Introducing for example; for instance; namely; such as; as follows; as exemplified by; such as; including;
examples
especially; particularly; in particular; notably; mainly;
first (ly); second (ly); third (ly); another; additionally; finally; moreover; also;
Sequencing
subsequently; eventually; next; then
Summary or in conclusion; therefore; to conclude; on the whole; hence; thus; to summarize; altogether;
Conclusion
overall; …following the research of…after analysis
Linking words within a sentence are referred to as coordinating conjunctions. Do not worry about the
term: think about the function.
Conjunction Function
Conciseness / redundant
Examples: try to replace phrases with a single words which mean the same.
put on gained
in spite of although
Linking words
Academic writing usually deals with complex ideas. To enable the reader to follow your thoughts, they
need to be clearly and smoothly linked. To join ideas and sentences, we use a number of connecting
words and phrases. For example:
Additionally, and, also, apart from this, as well (as), in addition, moreover, further, furthermore.
Correspondingly, equally, for the same reason, in a similar manner, in comparison, in the same way, on
the one hand, similarly.
Alternatively, although, but, conversely, despite, even so, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of,
instead, on the contrary, contrary to, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the other hand,
rather, still, though, yet, whereas, while.
Again, in fact, interestingly, indeed, it should be noted (that), more important(ly), most importantly, to
repeat, (un)fortunately, unquestionably.
A further instance of this is..., an example of this is…, for example, for instance, such as, thus, as follows.
In other words, more simply, namely, simply put, to put it differently / another way, such as, that is.
A / the consequence of, because, due to, for, the effect of …, since, the result of …
As a rule, for the most part, generally, in general, in most cases, normally, on the whole, usually.
First, second, third (etc), next, before, earlier, finally, following, given the above, later, meanwhile,
subsequently, then, to conclude, while.